Support for unions’ bill an issue in House race

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12th House District (Upcountry) Seat

Mickey Vierra

Party: Republican

Born: Sept. 26, 1983; Wailuku

Residence: Makawao

Occupation: Commercial account specialist

Education: Maui Community College

Family: Single

Kyle Yamashita

Party: Democrat

Born: Sept. 2, 1959; Honolulu

Residence: Pukalani

Occupation: Small-business owner

Family: Married; two children

* This is the 11th in a series of stories on candidates who will be on the ballot for Maui County Council and state legislative seats in Maui County. In Saturday's Maui News, the featured race will be the contest for the 6th Senate District (East Maui-Molokai-Lanai-Kahoolawe) seat.

WAILUKU - After two terms representing Upcountry in the state House of Representatives, Democrat Kyle Yamashita says he offers the best of two worlds: experience and a fresh perspective.

But Republican Mickey Vierra says his opponent has represented special interests more than Upcountry residents.

Vierra says Yamashita is too beholden to unions who've donated to his campaign; Vierra says he would do more to bring state improvement projects to Upcountry.

"I don't feel the representation we're getting in my district is for the people," Vierra said.

Yamashita said he's helped bring projects big and small to the area, and his sympathy for unions is tied to his experience as a business owner.

"The key to running a business is a good work force, so to support labor is a natural for me," he said.

While Yamashita defends his seat, he also continues to deal with tax liens on a business in which he is a partner. The state filed liens in 2006 on Kapunakea Partners, which owns SuperStop in Waiehu, after the company accumulated more than $440,000 in unpaid unemployment taxes.

Yamashita owns 19 percent of Waiehu Beach Partners, which in turn owns one-third of Kapunakea Partners.

Yamashita said there were outstanding federal taxes that have been paid, and the company is making scheduled payments to settle the state tax debt. He has previously said that he wasn't aware the business was having problems until the liens were filed in 2006.

The current total of delinquent general excise and withholding taxes for Kapunakea is $256,227, including penalties and interest.

"In any business you're always going to run into difficult times," he said. "What's more important is how you address it."

Vierra said he disagreed with Yamashita's vote on a bill this year that would have eliminated a secret ballot process when workers vote on whether to unionize. The so-called "card-check" bill was approved by the Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle. Vierra said requiring workers to declare their preference would make it easier for union leaders to pressure workers.

"I'm not against unions," Vierra said. "I'm against elected officials that collect money and feel obligated to vote the way the union wants them to vote."

Yamashita said he wasn't aware of problems with the bill when he voted for it because it moved through the House "under the radar." He noted no one testified against it, and said that with 3,000 bills introduced each year, he relied on House committee leaders and community members to let him know when they had issues with a bill.

"When there was a problem, we acted appropriately," he said.

Vierra disagreed.

"He didn't do his homework," he said.

Vierra also said Yamashita had dropped the ball on capital improvement projects for Upcountry.

"I feel our district is not getting our fair share since he's been in office," he said.

He said most of the projects unveiled while Yamashita was in office were actually started by his predecessors.

But Yamashita said he helped get funding in the budget for a number of Upcountry projects, including planning and design for an upgraded performing arts center at King Kekaulike High School, and $3.75 million to match county and federal funds to start a 300 million-gallon reservoir Upcountry.

Yamashita said the reservoir would be critical to protect the area from drought, and would also help farmers.

"I've been a strong supporter of agriculture," he said.

With the economic downturn and tourism slump a major issue this year, the candidates offer different proposals to stimulate the economy.

Yamashita said he'd support increasing spending on capital improvement projects to put builders back to work - a traditional tool governments use in slow times. He also said the state could look at partnering with the county to develop infrastructure for private affordable housing projects, based on urban growth areas outlined in the county's General Plan, which is in the process of being updated.

"You take care of two birds with one stone," he said.

He also said the state should support the high-technology industry, including renewable energy development and the aerospace and astronomy fields.

Vierra called for promoting renewable energy development with tax incentives, and proposed a $50 million revolving loan program to help homeowners finance photovoltaic or wind-power systems. That would stimulate jobs and promote energy self-sufficiency, he said.

"It would be a good investment," he said.

Vierra also said the state should stop spending money marketing Hawaii as a tourist destination, and should instead appeal to hotels and airlines to create travel packages that are affordable. He also said the state could look at lowering landing fees and other charges, or reducing the transient accommodations tax on hotel rooms to help reduce prices.

"My first approach would be to talk to the tourism industry, to get them to lower their prices," he said.

While the state looks at budget shortfalls next year, both candidates said spending on social services and nonprofit grants should be prioritized.

"My main concern is that our social services get the funding they need," Vierra said.

In addition to providing important services, nonprofits often leverage state funding by obtaining private donations and matching funds, Yamashita said.

"Sometimes the money goes a lot further," he said.

But the candidates differed on other issues.

Vierra calls for local school boards, saying they would bring more control back to Maui and reduce costs.

"That would get rid of a lot of bureaucracy," he said.

Yamashita said putting schools back under county control could have unintended consequences, since much of the tax revenue that funds the school system now comes from Oahu.

"I think the outer islands would be at a disadvantage," he said.

If he returns to the Legislature, Yamashita said his goals would include getting funding for Upcountry school improvements and upgrades, such as an enlarged cafeteria at Makawao Elementary School, where students currently eat lunch in three shifts.

"All these little things are to build for the future," he said.

Vierra said he had long family ties to the Democratic party, but that he was running as a Republican because he believes the state needs a two-party system. He served in 2002 as a legislative aide to Republican Rep. Kika Bukoski, who lost his seat to Yamashita in 2004.

Vierra said he was frustrated when he worked at the Legislature to see good bills quashed because of partisanship.

"We don't need people who are going to follow the train," he said.

* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.